Swans in the Green

Last year the swans did not breed in St Stephen's Green (Dublin).  I missed them terribly so was thrilled to see a new family again this year.  I always walk through the park on my way to work in the morning (I like it at that time when it has just opened and I have it almost to myself).  This year I've been able to follow the progress of the little family as the cygnets have matured.

I kept forgetting to bring my camera with me after I first spotted them so I did not get any photos of the 'day old chick' stage.  They cygnets were already a couple of weeks old before I eventually remembered to put the camera in my bag before I left for work.
 

They are such a wonderfully close-knit family unit.  The two adult swans are perfect parents - constantly protective and devoted to their young.

  

I love the way they swim in formation - usually with one parent in the lead and one bringing up the rear.

It is like family life in microcosm and I can't help feeling sad because I know it is for such a limited time.  Usually the park has either one adult swan or at most a breeding pair.  I don't suppose the area is big enough to support increasing numbers of adult birds.  When I watch them they seem so content and so much like a family in human terms.  I know this little idyll will end soon - and that they are blissfully unaware of it.
 

This is quite a strange photo but I think it is quite effective so I decided to include it.

These last pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago.   More and more white is starting to appear and the cygnets are almost full grown.  They live such a charmed and cosseted life here.  I hope when they are taken away that they end up somewhere equally as nice.

A bit of a gangly ballerina!  Eventually this one figured out where its leg was supposed to go, but for a while it kept flapping it awkwardly across its back.

Shop sign with two swans at the top of Grafton Street near to the entrance of the park.

St Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin

Some photographs of St Patrick's Cathedral (in honour of the saint's special day) which is also situated very close to where I work.  I have posted these pictures before but felt I couldn't let the country's national day pass without making an effort to put together some sort of post even though I'm still quite disorganised after moving home

In recent years some restoration work has been done to the exterior of the cathedral and the stonework has been cleaned.  It looks lovely and gleams like new in the sunshine.

The interior of the church is well worth a visit as well but there is a charge to go inside.  (Presumably attending a service does not have an entry fee!)

In St Patrick's Close next to the cathedral is Marsh's Library - the oldest public library in Ireland built in 1701.  It is one of few buildings that is still used for its original purpose.

Unfortunately my scanner is only A4 size so I had to scan separate copies of these pages from yesterday morning's Metro Herald (the great free newspaper I read on the train to work.)  They had a fabulous Where's Paddy? double page spread that I thought was a lot of fun so I'm including it (albeit in fragmented form) here.  

Happy St Patrick's Day!

In Which I Pay a Visit to St Valentine

This time last year I included a reference to St Valentine in a post about Mervyn Suart.  I mentioned at the time that I was not sure how many people know St Valentine's remains are housed in Dublin and can be found inside the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.  The church is very close to where I work and I have always been attracted to the statue of Mary that stands outside - I think she is beautiful and I love the way her gown drapes so softly.     

The picture of Mary is one of mine but I have borrowed all the others showing the interior of the church as I never feel comfortable taking photographs inside a place of worship.  I found them at two sites - Go Ireland and Superstock.  There are a lot of sites that give the history and details of how and why St Valentine was brought to Dublin which I am not going to repeat here. Instead I thought I would tell you about my recent visit. 

I live in Ireland but I am not Catholic.  The churches I am familiar with are much more simple and stained glass windows usually provide the only 'wow factor'.  Shrines, statues and relics are quite exotic to me and I don't really understand the complexity of Catholicism.  

But seeing as it was nearly his special day I thought I would pay St Valentine a visit. I've been to the church before and I tend to wander about inside and look around and nobody pays me much mind. 

The shrine is tucked away in an alcove off a side-aisle .  Above it is a life-size statue of the saint and as you can see from the photographs it is both realistic and brightly coloured.   On St Valentine's Day the saint's remains (usually stored under the shrine) are brought out and a special ceremony is held.  I think couples can also have their rings blessed but I have never gone to the church on the actual day.  I tend to prefer places when they are quiet and choose times when I can study everything peacefully on my own.

Placed on the shrine is a book in which people write messages to St Valentine,  asking for guidance and assistance in marriages and relationships.  I stopped to have a look at the page that was open.  The messages are so touching it is difficult not to wonder about the lives behind these heartfelt entreaties.  

As I finished reading I looked up and must have started back in surprise.  At that angle directly underneath the statue it seemed as though St Valentine was really looking at me.  He gazed down with his sad, benign smile, and in the soft flickering light of the candles filling the alcove I almost fancied there was mobility in his features and life behind his eyes.

The sensation lasted for just a moment and was broken by the arrival of two other people - but I left the place feeling as though the patron saint of love had, in that fleeting moment, looked favourably upon me.    

Don't forget that this is a leap year which means that girls can do the proposing.  So ladies put on your red petticoats to signal your intent at the end of the month (according to tradition) and make your conquest!  

And to finish - a clip from 'The King and I' - glamour and humour and charm.  They don't make them like this anymore!